Actuator for reciprocating well pumps



March 18 1952 E. w. MONG ET AL ACTUATOR FOR RECIPROCATING WELL PUMPS Filed May 5 Patented Mar. 18, 1952 YOF FICE,

ACTUATOR FOR RECIPRO CATING WELL PUMPS Edgar W. Mong and William O. Anderson, Los. Angeles, Calif.

Application May 5, 1947, Serial No. '746;094

Claims.

This invention has to do with an actuator for reciprocating well pumps and it is a general object to provide a simplied, improved and' practical construction for operating' the reciprocating element of a well pump from an operating mechanism located in a derrick.

The ordinary or conventional pumping Wellinvolves a pump located in the bottom ofthe well and including a reciprocating element, a pump operating mechanism located in the derrick at the top of the well, and a string of sucker rods connecting the said mechanism and the reciprocating element of the pump'. The string of sucker rods forms a heavy unit that sinks or moves down in the well by gravity after having been lifted by the action of the operating mechanism in the derrick. The usual string of sucker rods is made up of rod sections `joined by threaded connections and consequently the handling of a string of rods, either to run it into the well or to remove it from the well, is a rather slow, costly operation, and furthermore, the rod sections themselves are somewhat diflicult to handle since they are long ungainly members requiring rather careful handling.

Itis a general object ofthe present invention to provide va construction whereby the usual string of sucker rods is replaced by an operating line in the form of a flexible cable which line canbe easily and quickly handled as by means of a spool with consequent elimination of diflicult time-consuming operations which attend the handling of' an ordinary string of sucker rods.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to wherein a spring is provided in the well adjacent the pumpto serve as the means whereby the reciprocating element of the pump is returned or lowered after it hasl been lifted through the action ofthe operating mechanism in thev derrick. By our present invention we provide an arrangement in which we employ a long, largehelical spring acting under compression so that it is long-lived and dependable in operation.

Another objectfof the present invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to wherein a spring abutment is detachably mounted in the lower end portion of the tubing to form an abutment for the upper end of the spring the abutment being detachable orl removable so that when desired it is removable from the well with the removable pump parts and with the spring.

A further object of the present invention `is Vto provide apparatus of the general characterl resired either for inspection, repair'or replacement.

The various objects and features of our 'inven-V tion will be fully understood from-A the following detailed description of typical preferred rforms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, in'which':

Fig. 1 is aV view showing the variousessentia'l parts of a pumping well, certain of the elements being shown in section; Fig. 2 is an" enlarged longitudinal sectional view'of the structure o'cfcurring in the well at thepump or immediately' above the pump, being'a view takenisubstantially as indicated by line 2-2' on Fig. 1,. Fig. 3 is'al view of a portionr of` the structure' shown in Fig; 2' showing the parts in a different' positionand` showing' a godev'il' engaged with the mounting meansV tol release it. Fig. 4' is an` enlarged plan" section taken as indicated by line fl-41011 Fig'. 2'. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectionali'f'ievv`f taken as indicated by line 5-5 onFi'g; 2,' and" Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 's'howingiamodied form of ourinvention.

Our present invention is concerned; generally; with Well pumping equipment and more specifical; ly is applicable to certain standardelem'en'ts of pumping equipment suchA as the ordinary" or standard type of well pump' and-I they ordinary" well tubing as well as nthe ordinary pump actua`ting mechanism. The ordinaryorconventional' type of well pump is located in thebo'ttom ofthe well on the lower endof a string* of tubing and it is characterized by a reciprocating part 'which' isi operated to gain the desiredpump'ingaction and this part may be either a reciprocating plungerv l or a reciprocating barrel. At the topof/thel wel] or at the derrick the tubing isv carriedby va headr` and motion to be imparted to the reciprocating element of the pump is delivered by a pumping.

and terminating at the derrickwhere itiis` equipped with a head- I2. A string of tubing I3 is held by the head I2 andextends into 'the-Well'l through the casing and a'pump I4-` i's-carridiatf the lower end portion ofthe tubing. In ytl-ie varrangement illustrated a perfrate'dlinerr- ISS-de pumping action and this arrangement of the' pump is shown equipped or provided at its upper end with a valve cage I9.

The construction provided by the present invention involves, generally, a pump operating line that extends through the tubing and connects the equipment at the top of the well with the reciprocating element IB'of the pump at the bottom of the well, a return spring 2| at or in the vicinity of the pump, an abutment 22 for the return spring, mountingV means 23 for the abutment 22, operating means 24 for the means 23 controlled by the line 20 and operating means 25 for the means 23 independent of the line 20.

The operating line 20 that we provide is not a stiff or rigid structure such as a string of sucker rods, but rather is a flexible element preferably a flexible steel cable such that it can be handled when necessary by a reel or spool located at the derrick. The line 20 is shown attached to the lower end of the polish rod by a suitable coupling and it extends down through the tubing to the vicinity of the pumpwhere it is coupled to the reciprocating element I8 of the pump. In the particular case illustrated the lower end of the line 20 is joined or coupled to the element IB of the pump by a rod 3| which may be considered a part of the means 24, as will be hereinafter described. If the member 20 is not a line or cable as above disclosed but is the usual sucker rod the return spring and the other elements that I have provided will function suitably as set forth.

The return spring is preferably a long, helical spring 2| carried in the tubing between the upper end of the reciprocating element I8 and the abutment22 which we locate in the tubing a suitable distance above the pump. The tubing is of substantial size making it possible to provide a large,l or adequate spring and the structure is suchthat the spring can be made of any desired length since the abutment'22 can be located any desired distance above the element I8 of the pump. In the particular case illustrated the spring 2| is shown as large in diameter as possible consistent with proper operation within thel tubing and its lower end 33 is shown seated directly on the upper end of the reciprocating element I8, that is, on the upper end of the cage |49 which may be considered a part of the element I8, The upper end 34 of the spring 2| is shown in direct engagement with the abutment 22. v

The abutment 22 is an annular member fitting the interior of the tubing with clearance and provided with a central opening or passage 35 slidably or freely passing the rod 3|.

The mounting meansA 23 provided for the f abutmentl 22 is, broadly, a means or structure whereby the abutment is releasably or detachably located in the tubing at the desired point. In the preferred form of the inventionfas shown in the drawings the means 23 involves, generbumper or projection 50 which may involve ally, a seat member 36 fixed or stationary in the tubing, and a plurality of spring ngers 31 connected with the abutment and having lugs 38 that cooperate with the seat.

The seatv member 36 may be in the form of a coupling that joins an upper tubing section X with a lower tubing section Y, in which case it is somewhat longer than an ordinary coupling and is provided intermediate its ends with an internal recess 4I) which terminates at its lower end in an upwardly facing flat seat 4I and at its upper end in a downwardly facing inclined or pitched seat 42. Our construction is such that the seats 4I and 42 are spaced a Asubstantial distance apart, that is, substantially farther apart than the ends 44 of tubing sections joined by an ordinary or standard coupling 45.

The fingers 3'I are spring fingers, say for instance leaf springs, and in practice they may vary in number. In the drawings we have shown four symmetrically disposed ngers 3'I and we have shown the ngers having their lower ends anchored or fixed to the abutment 22. Each finger is provided with an outwardly projecting lug 38 formed or shaped to have a downwardly facing shoulder 46 adapted to seat on and cooperate with the seat 4I and further provided at its upper end with an upwardly faced shoulder 41 which is pitched or inclined to correspond to and to seat on the seat 42.

The lugs 38 are of substantial length, that is, they are of greater extent than the space between the ends 44 of tubing sections joined by collars 45. However, they are short enough to engagein the recess 4S provided in the seat member 35. The spring fingers are so proportioned or shaped as to normally bear outwardly so that when the lugs 38 are moved to a position opposite the recess 40 vthe spring fingers move out engaging the lugs in the recess. The shoulders 46 at the lower ends of the lugs cooperate with the seat 4| positively preventing downward movement of the fingers andconsequently of the abutment 22 relative to the seat 36. The shoulders 4l engage and cooperate with the seat 42 preventing upward movement of the fingers, and consequently upward movement of the abutment member during normal operation of the pump. It is to be noted, however, that the seat 42 is beveled or pitched upwardly somewhat and the shoulders 4l are likewise pitched so that ,if `excessive upward pressure is applied to the fingers or the lugs on the ngers, then the cooperation of the shoulders with the seat results in contraction of the ngers freeing the lugs from the seat and allowing the abutment member to move upwardly. This action or release of the fingers from the seat member only occurs, however, When upward pressure is applied, considerably in eX- cess of that normally required during operation of the pump.

The means l24. provided .for operating the mounting 23 to effect release of the lugs from the i the spring fingers from the rod. In the forml shown in Figs. l to 5of the invention the bumper 50 is an enlargement provided on. the rod 3| which has its lower end joined to the reciprocating element or" the pump/while its upper endextends well above Ythe seat 33 andis joined to the lower end of the line 20 by coupling 52. The

equally spaced parts, as shown in Fig. 4, is such aecomoas to be larger than the opening 35 through the abutment z2 so that if the rod V3| is moved upwardy` far enough beyond the normal stroke of the pump the bumperv engages the bottom of the abutment providing direct bearing engagement between' the line or the rod 3| coupled to the line and the abutment 22..- Under this condition the spring is under maximum compression. However, forcel may` be communicated directly from the line to the abutment without .depending upon communication through the springV and consequently a heavy upward pressure is applicable tothe Vabutmentl to eiect its release.

In Fig. -6 ofl the drawings we have shown a modifiedform of our invention wherein the means 24 above described is substantially the'l same lbut lis applied in a different manner. In this application of1 the means 24 the bumper 50 is.. an enlargement provided on the rod 3| as above. described and instead of engaging the abutment v22 it may freely pass it through an enlarged opening or passage '353. The bumper 50 may pass up through, or it may pass down through the opening 358L without engagement of the bumper with the abutment. A collar 6| at thel upper. end of the spring assembly slidably passes the rod 3| and carries the upper ends of extensions 60 of the spring fingers. The extensions. 60 as shown in the drawings are integral parts of the spring fingers and the parts may be proportioned so that when the rod 3| is moved upward beyond the normal stroke of the pump the bumper 50 engages the lower end f the collar 6|. Further upward movement of the rod moves the collarv upwardly-putting the spring finger and the extensions under Va tension strain `'which tends to flatten the spring fingers. With an upward pull on the lugs 38 and with the spring fingers in tension the lugs will readily be disengaged from the seat member. In this case the spring fingers operate under tension to release the lugs whereas in the rst form of the invention described they operate under compression.

The means 25 provided for releasing the lugs 38 from the recess 40 is operable independently of the line and, as shown in the drawings, it involves extensions 60 of the spring fingers extending upwardly and somewhat inwardly above the lugs 38. The upper ends of the extension 60 may be joined to the collar 6| slidably passing the rod 3|. The operating member of the means is a go-devil or weight 63 proportioned to slidably t the interior of the tubing with suitable working clearance and provided with a central opening or passage 64 that will pass all obstructions on the line 20 as for instance couplings 52, orthe like. The lower or operating end 65 of thego-devil is an annular part proportioned to engage the upwardly and inwardly extension parts 60 so that when the go-devil is dropped through the tubing the operating end 65 engages the extension parts 60 and wedges or moves them in to retract the lugs 38 from the recess 40.

In operating the apparatus that we have provided the parts are assembled as shownv in the drawings and the parts are arranged and related so that under normal pumping conditions the reciprocating element |8 of the pump is given the full or desired stroke without the bumper 50 engaging the abutment 22. It will be under- 6 the well by means of the line. with the spring 26| the bumper 22 and fingers 3lassembled there with. The seat 36, which is a simple collar-dike element, is the only part or element that is initially fixed or set in position and remains in position in the well.

As the assembly is lowered into the well the entire structurel freely slides through the tubing until the lugs` 38 come opposite the recess '40, whereuponfthe spring fingers move the lugs out. into seat engagement in the recess 40. With the lugs 38 .engaged in the recess the abutment, member 2-2 is set in operating position. As they pump is.` operated through reciprocation'of the line 2B. the line .serves to liftr the reciprocatingelement the. desired distancev and, when upwardy strain is relieved from the line the spring 22 returns the reciprocating lelement to the down position. The action vof the springvk is ofy course supplemented to a certain degree by thegcable 20 which exerts a certain amount of downward pressure on the pump element I8 although not,

enough to cause the desiredrate of operation of the pump.

When it is desired to remove the pump element or the part of the equipment that we have provided the line 20 may be moved up far enough to bringthe bumper- 50 into engagement with the abutment 22, or intoy engagementfwith the collarA 6|, as the case may be, fand as upwardstrain is applied throughV the line 'theV lugs 38A are disengaged from the seat 36 through the` action above described', freeing the fingers which are on the abutmentA 22V so that the. abutment with the spring and the fingers attached are free to move up through the tubing. In placev ofthe action j-ust describedor in conjunction with it we may dropthe go-devil 63 into the tubing so that it engages the finger extensions 60 releasing the lugs 38 from the recess and freeing the structure for removal from the well.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we'clairn:

1. A pump actuator for use with a well tubing carrying a pump with a reciprocating part operated by a line extending through the tubing including, a compression spring for insertion in the tubing to bear down on said part, an abutment for the upper end of the spring, a means releasably setting the abutment in the tubing above the pump including, a seat inserted in the tubing and a spring member connected with the abutment and releasably cooperating with the seat, means for releasing the rst mentioned means including a member slidable through the tubing to engage and deiiect the spring member, and a bumper operated by the line to engage and move the abutment upwardly in the tubing.

2. A pump actuator for use with a well tubing carrying a pump with a reciprocating part operated by a line extending through the tubing including, a compression spring for insertion in the tubing to bear down on said part, an abutment engaged by the upper end of the spring, and a means releasably setting the abutment in the tubing above the pump including a seat coupling inserted in the tubing and having an inwardly facing recess, and a spring member rigidly connected with the abutment and projecting theresasaafisao.4

from longitudinally ofthe tubing' and having a laterally projecting lug engageable in the recess.V

parts disengaged by upward pressure in excessl of .that required to operate the pump.

3. A pump actuator for use .with a Well carrying' a pump with a reciprocating part operated by aline extending through the tubing including, a compression spring for insertion in the tubing to bear down on said part, an abutment for the upper end of the spring, and a means releasably settingthe abutment in the tubingabove the vpump including a seat couplinginserted in the tubing and having an inwardly facing recess, and a spring member connected with the abutment and having a projecting lug engageable in the recess, the coupling and lug having cooperating inclined parts disengaged by upward pressure in excess of that required to operate the pump and having cooperating parts positively preventing downward movement of the abutment relative to the coupling from the position where the lug is engaged in the recess.

4. A pump actuator for use with a well tubing carrying a pump with a reciprocating part operated by a line extending through the tubing including, a compression spring for insertion in the tubing to bear down on said part, an abutment engaged by the upper end of the spring, and a means releasablysetting the abutment in the tubing above the pump including a seat coupling inserted in the tubing and having an inwardly facing' recess with an inclined upper shoulder and a transverse lower shoulder, and a extending therefrom longitudinally in the tubing,

thespring having an inclined upper shoulder cotubing Y l leaf spring rigidly connected to the abutment and 35 recess, having a transverse lower shoulder engag-` ing Ythe lower shoulder of the recess, and having an inclined face engageable by a go-devil to deflect the spring and simultaneously disengage the shoulders of the spring from the shoulders of theV recess.

5. A pump actuator for use with a well tubing carrying a pump with a reciprocating part operated by a line extending through the tubingV means releasably setting theabutment in the tubing above the pump including a seat coupling inserted in the tubing and havingr an` inwardly facing recess with an inclined shoulder, and a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced leaf springs fixed to therabutmvent and each having an inclined shoulder cooperatively engaging the shoulder of the recess, a partengaged in the recess.

and positively preventing downward movement of the spring, an inclined face. engageable by a go. devilv to deflect the spring and disengage the shoulders..

i EDGAR W. MONG.

WILLIAM O. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,235,174 Shupe Mar. 18, 1941 

